General Discussion

chknltl

(10,558 posts) Wed Apr 11, 2012, 11:01 PM Apr 2012

"When Stand Your Ground Failed"

Earlier today on The Norman Goldman Show, Norm and David Sirota discussed this case while the events in Florida were developing.

BY RANIA KHALEK

"As the shooting death of Trayvon Martin and the failure of authorities to arrest his killer, George Zimmerman, continues to grab headlines, many conservatives and gun rights advocates insist that race has nothing to do with it. Some have also rallied to the defense of Florida’s “stand your ground” law, the self-defense legislation under which Zimmerman was able to avoid arrest. Yet not all stand your ground claims are so successful. Not too far from Sanford, Fla., a black man named John McNeil is serving a life sentence for shooting Brian Epp, a white man who trespassed and attacked him at his home in Georgia, another stand your ground state....."

the rest of this story at:

http://www.salon.com/2012/04/11/when_stand_your_ground_fails/singleton/?mobile.html

9 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

"When Stand Your Ground Failed" (Original Post) chknltl Apr 2012 OP

"...a white man who trespassed and attacked him at his home..." NYC_SKP Apr 2012 #1

"...police determined that it was a case of self-defense and did not charge him in the death..." uponit7771 Apr 2012 #2

A racist one. 'Nuff said! n/t vaberella Apr 2012 #5

One would think this story especially relevent. chknltl Apr 2012 #3

This case really is bullshit. LAGC Apr 2012 #4

Take this case to achel or even Lawrence O'Donnell. n/t vaberella Apr 2012 #6

Norman Goldman is close to Ed Shultz chknltl Apr 2012 #7

What year did SYG pipoman Apr 2012 #8

Black people aren't allowed to use this law. It is only intended for Gawd Fearing White People. Ikonoklast Apr 2012 #9

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)

1. "...a white man who trespassed and attacked him at his home..."

Reply to chknltl (Original post)

Wed Apr 11, 2012, 11:09 PM

Apr 2012

And the black guy, homeowner and victim, is in jail for life.

uponit7771

(90,359 posts)

2. "...police determined that it was a case of self-defense and did not charge him in the death..."

Reply to chknltl (Original post)

Thu Apr 12, 2012, 01:49 AM

Apr 2012

This is because a couple across the street who saw the whole damn thing said it went down like the shooter said!!!!

The SA still prosecuted the man!!

OMG!!

WTF kind of country do we live in!!?!!?!?!?!?!?

vaberella

(24,634 posts)

5. A racist one. 'Nuff said! n/t

Reply to uponit7771 (Reply #2)

Thu Apr 12, 2012, 05:16 AM

Apr 2012

chknltl

(10,558 posts)

3. One would think this story especially relevent.

Reply to chknltl (Original post)

Thu Apr 12, 2012, 04:06 AM

Apr 2012

Kicked for the early AM crowd.

LAGC

(5,330 posts)

4. This case really is bullshit.

Reply to chknltl (Original post)

Thu Apr 12, 2012, 05:04 AM

Apr 2012

From everything I've read, McNeil was in his right to shoot in self-defense. But because he's black he's now serving a life sentence for defending himself.

No wonder so many blacks are suspicious of this law. When its applied so unevenly depending on the race of the presumed assailant and shooter, it makes a sham out of the whole system.

I don't think we necessarily need to get rid of "stand your ground", we just need to see it applied fairly in all circumstances, regardless of the race of all parties involved. But that's asking a lot of prosecutors and jurors, it would seem.

vaberella

(24,634 posts)

6. Take this case to achel or even Lawrence O'Donnell. n/t

Reply to chknltl (Original post)

Thu Apr 12, 2012, 05:17 AM

Apr 2012

chknltl

(10,558 posts)

7. Norman Goldman is close to Ed Shultz

Reply to vaberella (Reply #6)

Thu Apr 12, 2012, 07:15 AM

Apr 2012

One has to believe that he passed it upstream after his show yesterday. I too believe that this is a story that should see further public attention, especially now before the public attention moves on.

pipoman

(16,038 posts)

8. What year did SYG

Reply to chknltl (Original post)

Thu Apr 12, 2012, 07:28 AM

Apr 2012

pass in GA (this happened in 2006)? This is exactly why SYG laws have been put in place. This happened more often than most people knew. Even if the person wasn't convicted, the criminal defense cost them tens of thousands, then the civil defense cost thousands more.

Ikonoklast

(23,973 posts)

9. Black people aren't allowed to use this law. It is only intended for Gawd Fearing White People.

Reply to chknltl (Original post)

Thu Apr 12, 2012, 07:44 AM

Apr 2012

If a Black person gets shot, no matter the circumstances, he deserved it.
If a White person gets shot by a Black person, it's murder, no matter the circumstances.

Funny how the NRA is nowhere to be found in defense of McNeil in this cae case.

You'd think they would be defending McNeil's rights under SYG to use a firearm in a deadly force ca...oh, wait, sorry, McNeil is Black.

Screw him.

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